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Norman Collier's funeral attended by TV friends | Norman Collier's funeral attended by TV friends |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Stars from the world of comedy and entertainment have paid tribute to Norman Collier at his funeral. | Stars from the world of comedy and entertainment have paid tribute to Norman Collier at his funeral. |
The comedian, best known for his faulty microphone act, died earlier this month at the age of 87. | The comedian, best known for his faulty microphone act, died earlier this month at the age of 87. |
Hundreds of people joined Mr Collier's family for the service in the village of Welton, East Yorkshire. | Hundreds of people joined Mr Collier's family for the service in the village of Welton, East Yorkshire. |
Among them were Russ Abbot, Roy "Chubby" Brown, Eddie Large, Freddie Davies, Tom O'Connor, Tommy Cannon, Bobby Ball and Roy Hudd. | |
'Wonderful man' | 'Wonderful man' |
Some of the comedy legends who gathered in the freezing weather outside St Helen's Church attempted Collier's trademark stuttering microphone routine. | Some of the comedy legends who gathered in the freezing weather outside St Helen's Church attempted Collier's trademark stuttering microphone routine. |
But Abbot admitted "no-one could do it like Norman". | But Abbot admitted "no-one could do it like Norman". |
Eddie Large said: "Norman was the funniest man I've ever met in my life. I've never had so many laughs in his company, ever. He was just brilliant. | Eddie Large said: "Norman was the funniest man I've ever met in my life. I've never had so many laughs in his company, ever. He was just brilliant. |
"We've driven up from Bristol today - I would have walked to be here because of Norman. | "We've driven up from Bristol today - I would have walked to be here because of Norman. |
"Norman found everything funny. I know it's a sad occasion but if he was here he would be laughing his head off - at anything. | "Norman found everything funny. I know it's a sad occasion but if he was here he would be laughing his head off - at anything. |
"That was what was so great about him. He was a wonderful, wonderful man." | "That was what was so great about him. He was a wonderful, wonderful man." |
The coffin was carried into the church to sound of a trumpeter and followed by his wife of more than 60 years, Lucy, as well as his three children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. | The coffin was carried into the church to sound of a trumpeter and followed by his wife of more than 60 years, Lucy, as well as his three children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. |
Norman Collier died at a residential care home close to his home city of Hull after being ill with Parkinson's disease for a number of years. | Norman Collier died at a residential care home close to his home city of Hull after being ill with Parkinson's disease for a number of years. |
He became a major figure on the club circuit and on TV with his stuttering performances as he pretended to have a sound problem, as well as for another long-running gag where he strutted and clucked like a chicken. | He became a major figure on the club circuit and on TV with his stuttering performances as he pretended to have a sound problem, as well as for another long-running gag where he strutted and clucked like a chicken. |
Mr Collier had been a gunner during World War II and made his comedy debut in 1948 when a performer at Hull's Perth Street Club failed to show up and he agreed to fill in. | Mr Collier had been a gunner during World War II and made his comedy debut in 1948 when a performer at Hull's Perth Street Club failed to show up and he agreed to fill in. |
Alongside his day job as a labourer, he honed his craft on the northern club circuit, eventually making comedy his main career by 1962. | Alongside his day job as a labourer, he honed his craft on the northern club circuit, eventually making comedy his main career by 1962. |
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